Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-17
school House. May be Too Luxurious.

School Houses MAY He Too Luxurious.
Anna C. Bracket in American Journal Of Education.
i remember making certain friend OF mine
quite angry one day. He had shown me over
certain hfgh-school building. 1t had long marble
hOOred corridors, statues reception-rooms for Wis
itors, and Withdrawing rooms for the principal
and others for the teachers carpeted with the best
Brussels, and handsomely furnished. At last he
stopped In an 1mmenS Sc hall, which was 70 De used
Ior exhloitons and after pointing oue an me OF
comfort OF The chairs, he paused to hear my enth-
siastic admiration. shall never forget his dis
gust when asked:
"And what Kind OF teaching is done here?"
That seemed to be thought which had DOT oc-
CURED TO him, and the time which he had spent IN
showing me around seemed to have been entirely
lost. am afraid my answer seemed ungrac1ous,
and yet am too jealous OF the honor and excel
renee OF the profession to which belong NOT 10
set the teacher above his surroundings and not to
rear That amid all the "mint, and an1Se, and cum
min" more important things may be overlooked.
sn rs tnere not danger ina. we MAKE 1o 1
spire spirit for labor? Comfortable they should
be; exquidtely neat they should be, and well-pro:
portioned; but luxurious they should not be, and
In 81 NE cases it seems as If they were.
The public schools are an investment OF the ma
ton The income from them should be honest
men and women, loving the truth, hating lie,
and ready and anxious to help the world along by
being good citizens. Industry and proud humil-
NY s1o 9 De the sign OF 5ne an
pend upon task-master to insure its activity; q
humility which is willing to learn from expert
ence, and knows that its best is none too good,
whatever the work to which it may set its hand !;
too proud to stoop TO meanness to ask a favor or
TO accept reward for the performance OF duty.
Citizens for the republic, graduated with such a
diploma, are what the republic has right to ex-
pect as the result OF her in her common
schools.
But what have marble, Brussels carpets and
cushioned chairs to do in producing such results?
The teachers are the servants OF the republic, and
their time while in the school Is sacred to their
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
them? They are not there to withdraw. or what
use are reception-rooms? They are not teachers
in order that they may receive visitors. They are
there to be with their pupils. They are not there
to rest, but 10 labor. AS well have sofas and arm
chairs and reception rooms IN any WORKSHOP: The
contact with his pupils-are OF vital Importance.
They are the pure gold which may not be wasted.
Time enough for rest. withdrawal, and receptions
when the school hours are over; time enough for
preparation for the school work.
But In school there is no time for such things.
In school IT is the pupils and not the visitors
whom the time and attention are due. After the
bell strikes in the morning the teacher is no more
his own. He Is servant OF the republic, and
should be alert at his post. There Is such thing
as making person too comfortable to work. A
rocking chair and fan are not favorable to alge-
bra and geometry, or indeed to any mental ac-
tivity. cushion and cigar are not provocative
of real study.
That we have improved on the old red school,
houses, with their hard and uncomfortable seats,
we do not doubt. But have we improved on the
character OF the work done In them? The exter-
mails OF our schools fine and often elegant. Is
the teaching done in them strong and vigorous?
Is there not just shade OF danger that we may
spend too much money on the schOOl-hOuseS-that
we may make them too luxurious for workshops
That is what they ought to be. Luxury, If we can
AFFORD 1t, for our leisure hOurS but for the forging
OF character the anvil and all the surroundings OF
labor. The workman divests himself OF all un-
necessary appurtenanceS when he goes TO his
task. Is the teacher a workman or man Of leis-
ure? IL Is well perhaps, to look at this side OF the
question little. 1t is possible to make the at
mOsphere or building favorable to rest and re-
pose and not favorable to activity. It is possible
TO spend much money on schOOlhOuSeS and eXhi-
bittOn rooms and to send out therefrom graduates
pufed up with a little nerveless information and
vain in more senses than one 1t may not be out OF
place to suggest a danger.